Helping mahalla staff prevent violence against women

October 29, 2020

Photo: UNDP Uzbekistan

200 mahalla staff have been trained to provide faster and more effective assistance to victims of gender-based violence.

On October 27 the training ‘Preventing violence against women and the role of mahalla activists in the fight against violence’, hosted by UNDP and the Ministry of Mahalla and Family Affairs, was held online for mahalla staff throughout Uzbekistan. This event was conducted within the framework of the ‘Empowering Women to Participate in Public Administration and Socio-Economic Life’ project, with funding from the Embassy of Sweden.

More than 200 training participants were informed of international standards in limiting violence against women, the types of violence and threats women face and ways of responding to them, best practices in providing correct and timely assistance to victims of violence, and means of preventing early marriage among girls. Participants also learnt ways of implementing norms of key national legislation for protecting women’s rights.

Uzbekistan’s Development Action Strategy for 2017-2021 established new opportunities for raising levels of women’s education and economic activity, and strengthening women’s role in the governance of state and society. In 2019, two pieces of legislation were established to better protect the rights and interests of women in Uzbekistan.

In addition, during the on-going COVID-19 pandemic, new initiatives have been undertaken in Uzbekistan to protect women from an increased threat of gender-based violence, which was recognized by the UN as being a global concern. UNDP and the Ministry of Mahalla and Family Affairs both played critical roles in implementing these national initiatives.

At the digital training held on October 27, Doctor of Law Lola Saidova discussed the best means of preventing different types of violence against women. In addition, psychologist Parizoda Kurakhmetova presented approaches to be used by mahalla employees when engaging women who have experienced violence, helping prevent cases of suicide or self-reproach among victims.

First Deputy Minister for Mahalla and Family Affairs Gulnora Marufova stressed during the training the critical role mahalla employees play in protecting women from violence.

“Each mahalla’s deputy chairperson for family, women and social issues should be aware of unfavorable situations in families, and provide them with immediate help. It is necessary to promptly arrange the assistance of a psychologist from the Center for Rehabilitation and Adaptation for victims of violence,” Ms. Marufova said. “Every woman, her value, and even her everyday mood is important to us. Each deputy chairperson should feel responsible for the calm and happy life of every woman in their mahalla.”

At the end of the event, participants had time to take part in a discussion and receive answers to their questions from specialists. The training was attended by heads of regional departments of the Ministry of Mahalla and Family Affairs, deputy mahalla chairpersons for family, women and social issues, and mahalla advisors. The event’s 200 participants took part digitally from Tashkent City and all regions of Uzbekistan.